Tim Lee-Life Can Change on a Dime
Every now and then God lets me cross paths with somebody who is a real difference maker. Such a person was Tim Lee.
Tim and I related because we both played basketball in college. He was an extremely dedicated member of Landmark Church of Christ. He was a great friend. He knew more great sports figures than anybody I have been around. He was so humble about the things he had accomplished yet kept on doing them in the background. Here are a few of his accomplishments.
He was instrumental in starting and giving leadership to a great ministry at Landmark known as Gridiron. It’s a kick-off to the football season. Tim was able to get some of the great coaches and sports figures to come and speak. Coaches Les Miles, Trent Dilfer, Gene Stallings, and many others became close friends of Tim. About seven hundred tickets were available and they all sold out quickly. Tim always made sure that I had a ticket at his table.
Tim was instrumental in starting and giving leadership to one of the finest ministries in Alabama known as RSVP. It is a ministry that is helping people recover from addictions like alcohol, drugs, gambling, etc. It is held at Landmark Church of Christ on Wednesday nights. I know a lot of churches that have had similar ministries, but I know of none that lasted many years. They have about 75 people every week. I was honored when Tim asked me this past winter to speak at the 25th anniversary. I wish you could have heard the testimonies of people whose lives have been dramatically changed by Jesus Christ. I have spoken at the Wednesday night sessions and have been greatly inspired every time.
When the ministry started, some of the church members suggested that if they were going to meet at Landmark, they should meet on Tuesday night when not so many of “our people” were on church property. Tim and Landmark’s pastor, Buddy Bell, insisted that it should be on Wednesday night because the church was open to every person! Tim always felt that Jesus would be spending most of His time with addicted persons and sinners like him (and me).
Tim was instrumental in starting a breakfast on Saturday mornings where men could come together and share and pray together. It has evolved to include some of the great leaders in the community of Montgomery in politics, business, sports, and churches.
Tim designed a pen that he gave out as his calling card. It is purple (LSU) and reads, “Life can change on a dime.” He listed James 4:14. He gave one to Dan Orlovsky who was one of the Gridiron speakers. He is on Sports Center on ESPN. If you look closely, he has that pen prominently displayed on his desk.
Life changed for Tim on Wednesday night, August 27. He had given great leadership to the Gridiron event on Monday night. He, Si, and I ate together on Tuesday night. On Wednesday night, he spoke at the RSVP. He went home and went to bed and died in his sleep during the night. He didn’t really die. He went from life here to eternal life with Jesus! He is more alive now than ever before! I know he was greeted by hundreds of people who are in Heaven because of Tim Lee.
The Saturday morning group just gave the group a name—Tim Lee Difference Makers. I want to be a difference-maker like Tim. He was a marvelous Church of Christ member, but I have a hunch that he had some Methodist blood in him!
Are you ready when life changes on a dime?
